Samsung HW-Q990H vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7

Wirecutter calls it pricey and says the 48.5-inch bar may not fit between a TV's legs. Its compact sub measured 5.6 dB (mid-bass) and 4.2 dB (low-bass) less than the Vizio Elevate's and isn't likely to shake your couch. A 2-star Amazon reviewer found the sub basically useless.

Wirecutter says the front display scrolls only four characters at a time, so you end up using the SmartThings app, which takes more time than grabbing a remote.

RTINGS found much of the performance unchanged from the HW-Q990F. It says the new Sound Elevation feature lifts dialogue at the cost of horizontal clarity, and it picks the discounted Q990F as the better value. A few early Amazon reviewers were disappointed with the sound and soundstage.

Tom's Guide calls music performance 'okay': vocals felt pinched, bass was strangely lackluster on music, and percussion sounded tinny.

Tom's Guide found some subtle high-frequency sounds lost under a bass-heavy soundtrack. Its guide says the bass was tuned a bit low out of the box and recommends raising bass and surround height in the app.

Tom's Guide says the Bar 7 comes with or without the subwoofer. It tested the bundle; the sub alone costs $329 if you add it later. The bar is fairly compact and can look small under larger TVs.